Chapter 32 - The Training of Elephants

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Elephants are classified into four kinds in accordance with the training they are given: that which is tameable (dāmya), that which is trained for war (sānnāhya), that which is trained for riding (aupavāhya), and rogue elephants (vyāla).

Those which are tameable fall under five groups: that which suffers a man to sit on its withers (skandhagata), that which allows itself to be tethered to a post (stambhagata), that which can be taken to water (vārigata),^[1] that which lies in pits (apapātagata), and that which is attached to its herd (yūthagata).^[2]

All these elephants shall be treated with as much care as a young elephant (bikka).

Military training is of seven kinds: drill (upasthāna),^[3] turning (saṃvartana),^[4] advancing (saṃyāna),^[5] trampling down and killing (vadhāvadha),^[6] fighting with other elephants (hastiyuddha), assailing forts and cities (nāgarāyaṇa), and warfare.

Binding the elephants with girths (kakṣyākarma), putting on collars (graiveyakakarma), and making them work in company with trained herds (yūthakarma) are the first steps (upavicāra) of the above training.^[7]

Elephants trained for riding fall under eight groups: that which is taught to follow wild elephants with the fore and hind limbs raised and with the back a little lowered, which suffers a man to mount over it when in company with another elephant (kūñjaraupavāhya), that which suffers riding when led by a warlike elephant (sānnāhyopavāhya), that which is taught trotting (dhoraṇa), that which is taught various kinds of movements (ādhānagatika),^[8] that which can be made to move by using a staff (yaṣṭyupavāhya), that which can be made to move by using an iron hook (totropavāhya), that which can be made to move without whips (śuddhopavāhya), and that which is of help in hunting.

Autumnal work (śāradakarma),^[9] mean or rough work (hīnakarma),^[10] and training to respond to signals are the first steps for the above training.

Rogue elephants can be trained only in one way. The only means to keep them under control is punishment. It has a suspicious aversion to work, is obstinate, of perverse nature, unsteady, wilful, or of infatuated temper under the influence of rut.

Rogue elephants whose training proves a failure may be purely roguish (śuddha),^[11] clever in roguery (suvrata),^[12] perverse (viṣama),^[13] or possessed of all kinds of vice.

The form of fetters and other necessary means to keep them under control shall be ascertained from the doctor of elephants.

Tether posts (ālāna), collars, girths, bridles, leg chains, frontal fetters are the several kinds of binding instruments.

A hook, a bamboo staff, and machines (yantra), are instruments.

Necklaces, such as vaijayantī and kṣurapramālā, and litter and housings are the ornaments of elephants.

Mail armour (varma), clubs (totra), arrow bags, and machines are war accoutrements.

Elephant doctors, trainers, expert riders, as well as those who groom them, those who prepare their food, those who procure grass for them, those who tether them to posts, those who sweep elephant stables, and those who keep watch in the stables at night, are some of the persons that have to attend to the needs of elephants.

Elephant doctors, watchmen, sweepers, cooks and others shall receive (From the storehouse) one prastha of cooked rice, a handful of oil, and two palas of sugar and of salt. Excepting the doctors, others shall also receive 10 palas of flesh.

Elephant doctors shall apply necessary medicines to elephants which, while making a journey, happen to suffer from disease, overwork, rut, or old age.

Accumulation of dirt in stables, failure to supply grass, causing an elephant to lie down on hard and unprepared ground, striking on vital parts of its body, permission to a stranger to ride over it, untimely riding, leading it to water through impassable places, and allowing it to enter into thick forests are offences punishable with fines. Such fines shall be deducted from the rations and wages due to the offenders.

During the period of Cāturmāsya (the months of July, August, September and October) and at the time when two seasons meet, waving of lights shall be performed thrice. Also on new moon and full moon days, commanders shall perform sacrifices to Bhūtas for the safety of elephants.^[14]

Leaving as much as is equal to twice the circumference of the tusk near its root, the rest of the tusks shall be cut off once in 2½ years in the case of elephants born in countries irrigated by rivers (nadīja), and once in 5 years in the case of mountain elephants.^[14]

[Thus ends Ghapter XXXII, “The Training of Elephants,” in Book II, “The Duties of Government Superintendents” of the Arthaśāstra of Kauṭilya. End of the fifty-third chapter from the beginning.]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

That which enters the forest known as vāribandha.—Com.

[2]:

That which is being taught sports along with the head of tamed elephants.—Com.

[3]:

Such as rising, bending, and jumping over fences, ropes, etc.—Com.

[4]:

Such as lying down, sitting, and leaping over pits and lines drawn.—Com.

[5]:

Going straight and transverse or making serpentine movements.—Com.

[6]:

Trampling down the horses and chariots and killing the infantry.—Com.

[7]:

Knowledge of girths, collars, and herds is additional training.—Com.

[8]:

Moving with two or three legs.

[9]:

That which is stout, thin, red or diseased is termed sarada. The stout animal is to be starved; the emaciated made stout; the red, i.e. dyspeptic, made to have its appetite intense; and the diseased put under medical treatment.—Com.

[10]:

That which has no exercise is termed hīna; it is to be put to exercise accordingly.—Com.

[11]:

This is extremely ferocious and has 18 blemishes.—Com.

[12]:

This is ever ready to run away and has 15 blemishes.—Com.

[13]:

This has the vices of the first two combined in it.—Com.

[14]:

In śloka-metre.